Submarine mine and other explosive charge for submarine use



Nov, 11- I924. 1,514,743

H. J. TAYLOR SUBMARINE MINE AND OTHER EXP LOSIVE CHARGE FOR SUBMARINE USE Filed July 19. 1921 2 Shoots-Shun 1 Now. 11. 1924. I 1,514,143

H. J. TAYLOR SUBMARINE MINE AND OTHER EXPLOSIVE HARGE FOR SUBMARINE Us E Filed July 19. 1921 2 Sheen-Shoot 2 Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT JOHN TAYLOR, OF PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO VICKEIR'S LIMITED, OF WESTMINSTER, ENGLAND.

SUBMARINE MINE AND OTHER EXPLOSIVE CHARGE FOR SUBMARINE USE.

Application filed July 19, 1921. Serial No. 485,959.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, HERBERT JOHN TAY- LOR, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at H. M. S. Vernon, Portsmouth,

6 England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating'to Submarine Mines and Other Explosive Charges for Submarine Use, of which the following is a specification. p v

This invention has for its object the provision of new or improved releasing devices for use with submarine mines, in which certain parts, such as for example of the pistol, or the rimer and detonator, are to be retained in the ino erative. position, until the mine'has reache a set depth, or other set conditions have been-fulfilled.

The present invention consists of a ball releasing device in conjunction with a 'hydrostatic diaphragm or piston or equivalent,

the ball releasing device comprising three members and one or more balls holding two adjacent members together and retained in this position by a third member, the relative movement of which is efiected by the hydrostatic controlled or other gear,.to release one of the aforesaid two members, with or without simultaneously locking the third.

According to one construction, the device consists of a spindle attached to the part to be released and sliding into a fixed sleeve, over which a second sleeve slides. The fixed sleeve has holes in which one or more balls or pellets not necessarily spherical are placed. These balls or pellets project into a groove in the spindle'and are prevented from falling out of this roove by the sliding sleeve. The sliding s eeve is acted upon through a diaphragm or piston by water 40 pressure, and as it moves it compresses a spring-against the spindle.

When a certain predetermined depth or pressure is reached, the inner-bore of the sliding sleeve ceases to make contact with the balls, eitherby the provision of a groove, or otherwise, and allows them to be shot out ofthe groove in the spindle, which is now under sgring compression and'is suddenly release The same method may be applied but with the parts reversed, i. e., the outer sleeve may be attached to the part to be released and the spindle to the diaphragm or piston, or

alternatively, the outer sleeve may be fixed and the inner sleeve may slide carrying with it the spindle.

The construction above described is readily applied to a pistol such as is employed in mines or depth charges which are to be fired automatically at a certain depth. In this case the spindle carries the firing pin whereby the spindle is released or driven on to the detonator to fire the charge. Or it may be applied to safety gear where it is desired to keep one portion of the mechanism at a safe distance from another part until a certain depth in the water is reached, such as keeping the detonator away from the primer, or one electric contact from another.

Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings illustrate in vertical section the application of the device to the pistol of a depth charge or mine, and to a safety device for use with submarine mines in which the primer or detonator is moved to the firin the groove 3 and partly in the recesses 5.

Slidably mounted on the fixed sleeve is an outer sleeve 7 which initially prevents the balls from leaving the slots 5, but which is provided with a groove, recesses or the like 8, at a suitable position along its len th, into which the balls can pass when in ine therewith, and so leave the groove in the spindle 2.

The outer sleeve 7 is connected to the diaphragm 9 of a hydrostat 10, the spring 11 of which is arranged to act upon'the head of the spindle 2.

In operation, the diaphragm 9 as it is forced inwards by water pressure causes the outer sleeve 7 to move over the fixed sleeve 4 and at the same time compress the spring 11. During these operations the spindle 2 is locked to the fixed sleeve 4 by the ball 6. As soon as the sleeve 7 is in such a position that the groove 8 is in line with the balls 6, the outward pressure on the same forces them away from the spindle to the groove 8, the spindle being released and v driven inwards by the stored no energy of the spring 11 to cause the in 1 to strike the detonator 12, to fire the c arge' of the mine in the usual manner.

Referring now to Fi re 2 the primer 13 is supported on a spin e 2, provided with a groove 3, and mounted on a fixed sleeve 4, provided with through slots or recesses 5. The outer sleeve 7 in this case is acted on by the hydrostat spring 11, and is connected to an extending diaphragm or like member 8. In this case the outer'sleeve 7 is moved alon the fixed sleeve and the s indle 2, until its lower end just clears the all or balls 6, which thereu 11 fall away from the s indle and fixed sllieve to release the spin e, and consequently removes the restraint placed on the primer against mov ing towards the firing position relatively to the detonator.

It is obvious that the movement effecting release may be of a rotational character instead of or in addition to being of a sliding character as above described, the relative rotation of the parts bringing escape a rtures into register with the balls to a ow them to pass away to unlock one of' the members previously locked.

Also the releasing gear may be applied to the parts of submarine mines, other than those above referred to.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In submarine mines and other explosive charges for submarine use a releasing or locking device comprising an inner member, a 'fixed intermediate member disposed around said inner member and provided with displaceable locking means, a movable sleeve surrounding said intermediate member and normally holdingsaid locking means in pm sition, a hydrostatic diaphragm connected to said sleeve, and a single spring which serves the combined function of holding said device in' the locked position, and also sup. plying the minimum resistance which has to overcome before the parts can move into the unlocked position.

2. In submarine mines and other explosive charges for submarine use a releasingxor locln'ng device comprising an innered member having a recessed part, a fixed intermediate member provided with a slot, laterally displaceable locking means in said slot said 1 means projecting into the recessed part 1n the inner member, a displaceable sleeve surrounding said intermediate member and normall holding said locking means in position, a ydrostatic diaphragm connected to said sleeve and a single ring which serves the combined function of olding said device in the locked position, and

also supplying the minimum resistance which has to be overcome before the parts can move into the unlocked position.

sleeve surroundin 3. In submarine mines and other explosive charges for submarine use a releasin or locking device comprising a spindle, a fixed sleeve surrounding said spindle, a slidable sleeve surrounding said first -mentioned sleeve, ball locking means disposed between said fixed sleeve and said spindle, said ball locking means being retained in position by the slidable sleeve, a hydrostatic diaphragm connected to said sleeve and a single s ring which serves the combined function of olding said device in the locked position, and also supplying the minimum resistance which has to be overcome before the parts can move into the'unlocked osition.

4. In submarine mines an other explosive charges for submarine use a releasing or locln'ng device comprising an inner member, a fixed intermediate member provided with displaceable locking means which project into recesses in said inner member, a sliding said intermediate member and normally olding said locking means in position, a hydrostatic diaphragm connected to said sleeve, and a single s ring which serves the combined fimction of olding said device in the locked position, and

also supplying the minimum resistance which has to be overcome before the parts can move into the unlocked position.

5. In submarine mines and other explosive charges for submarine use a releasing or lockin device comprising an inner member,

a fixe intermediate member provided with displaceable locking means which project into recesses in said inner member, a movable sleeve surroundin said intermediate member and normally lioldin saidlocking means in position, said movable sleeve being provided with a recessed portion for the purpose specified, a hydrostatic diaphragm connected to said sleeve, and" a single s rmg which serves the combined function of old- 'ing said device in the locked position, and

"and a single spring whichserves the combined function of holding said device in the locked position, and also supplying the mini-.

mum resistance which has to be overcome before the parts can move into the unlocked position.

7 In submarine mines and other explosive disposed around v sleeve and norma y char es for submarine use a device for con trolling the movement of the firing gear comprisingx a spindle provided with a oove, :1. ed sleeve surrounding said spine and provided with a slot, laterally displaceable locking means located within said slot and projecting within said groove, a movable sleeve dis osed' around said fixed (preventing the balls from leaving the sai slot, said movable sleeve being provided with a rooved portion which is adapted to be rought mto line with the slot in the fixed sleeve to allow the locking means to pass into said oove and thereb to release the spindle, a drostatic,.diap ragm connects to said s eeve,

and a single spring which serves the comhined function of holdin said device in the locked position, and a so supplying the minimum resistance which has to be overcome before'the parts can move into the unlocked position.

8. In submarine mines and other explosive challl' es fgr sfiuhmarine use, a device for contro mg te ring gear comprising a s rin loaded firing pin, a fixed sleeve surroui iding the pin and provided with displaceable lock ing means and a movable sleeve surrounding the fixed sleeve and normally holding the locking means in position.

HERBERT- JOHN TAYLOR. 

